work permit has expired passport number -- problem for entry clearance?

hi all,

I just received my work permit, and noticed that it has my old passport number on it. (I applied for and received a new passport after my work permit application was submitted, as the passport I had at the time was due to expire in January.) Will this be a problem when appying for entry clearance?  (Should I enclose my old passport, which has been voided, along with my new one?)

thanks,

retrobolted.

You probably actually need a new work permit.  You will probably need to start the process again.

Unless you get a VERY helpful ECO.  But I haven't know any consulate play ball on this for about the past 5 years.

Vicky

Thanks Victoria. What terrible news. I would think this must be a very common problem. People apply for a job, they get it, their company submits a WP application, and then the prospective employee realizes their passport is due to expire relatively soon and decides to renew it.

If I go ahead and apply for the entry clearance, submitting both passports, etc., and am refused, do they keep the application fee (410 pds for me and my wife)?

thanks again,

retrobolted.

Yes, they would keep the money.

It's not a common problem if the company notice the expiry date on the paspsort, or if they use a decent law firm to help.  But it is a bummer.  A client of mine lost his passport last year and got a new one without telling me - we had to make a new application.  He was Australian, and it took six weeks!

Vicky

I suppose it wouldn't be a problem if everyone hired a company to do it. Although, as you pointed out, what they actually need to do is get the information to the prospective work permit holder, and not merely to the company or entity submitting the work permit application. It seems to me to be just bad government not to have this information easily available online.

retrobolted

Sorry, to have what info on-line?  It does say on the application form that passport numbers are needed.

Vicky

What I meant was that prospective work permit holders need to know that they ought not to renew their passports between the time their work permit application is submitted and the time they receive entry clearance. This is information that, so far as I can tell, the UK Home Office does not make available to prospective work permit holders. They could, of course, rely on those entities filling out the work permit application to divine this information and pass it along to the prospective work permit holder, but as my experience, and yours with the Australian, shows, this doesn't always happen.

All I was able to find out back in July when I was trying to decide whether to renew my passport is that it needed to be valid for the duration of my work permit. I remember worrying about the fact that my work permit was to be for 5 years, which is also the maximum length of time for which a Canadian passport is valid, meaning the condition listed as a requirement was impossible to satisfy.

The reason I stress the gov't should make this information available is that when it comes to visas and immigration, a great many things are not common sense. For instance, who would think that if a work permit were issued in my name and with passport number X, and I enclosed when applying for entry clearance both that passport and a new one, where everything on the two passports other than the number (name, date of birth, location of birth, etc.) was identical, and the cancellation date of the old passport is the same as the issuance date of the new passport, that entry clearance would likely be denied? I think the average person would just think "well, obviously this is the same guy, so entry clearance won't be a problem".



retrobolted.

Sorry, to have what info on-line?  It does say on the application form that passport numbers are needed.

Vicky

Vicky - I have posted a question earlier not sure if you have got a chance to look at it but in my WP against passport number it is written "Not Stated".

do you think it is will be a problem? If there was no passport number in my application then why didnt they shouted?

What I meant was that prospective work permit holders need to know that they ought not to renew their passports between the time their work permit application is submitted and the time they receive entry clearance. This is information that, so far as I can tell, the UK Home Office does not make available to prospective work permit holders. They could, of course, rely on those entities filling out the work permit application to divine this information and pass it along to the prospective work permit holder, but as my experience, and yours with the Australian, shows, this doesn't always happen.

All I was able to find out back in July when I was trying to decide whether to renew my passport is that it needed to be valid for the duration of my work permit. I remember worrying about the fact that my work permit was to be for 5 years, which is also the maximum length of time for which a Canadian passport is valid, meaning the condition listed as a requirement was impossible to satisfy.

The reason I stress the gov't should make this information available is that when it comes to visas and immigration, a great many things are not common sense. For instance, who would think that if a work permit were issued in my name and with passport number X, and I enclosed when applying for entry clearance both that passport and a new one, where everything on the two passports other than the number (name, date of birth, location of birth, etc.) was identical, and the cancellation date of the old passport is the same as the issuance date of the new passport, that entry clearance would likely be denied? I think the average person would just think "well, obviously this is the same guy, so entry clearance won't be a problem".

But the work permit is tied to your passport.  If the number on your work permit is not the same as in your valid passport, then surely the work permit is also not valid?  It's not as easy as saying, 'well this is the same guy so it's okay'.  Passports can be forged.  It's a checks and balances system. 

I am inclined to agree with Gita I am afraid.  I told my Australian in no uncertain terms what a numpty he was...actually, he was very embarassed, as three days after we got the new permit the old passport turned up!

Vicky

All I was able to find out back in July when I was trying to decide whether to renew my passport is that it needed to be valid for the duration of my work permit.

And also, this isn't true.  My passport wasn't valid for the duration of my work permit and it was fine.  You can have a new passport once the work permit has started and your old passport is expired.

I was just going through the WP form on Home office site. It says specify the the passpot number (If Known)... does it not indicate that it is optional?



 

It means if you have it, put it, if you don't, don't.  Though I am amazed that they still allowed your applictaion without it being listed.

Vicky

Thanks for implying I'm a numpty, Victoria. I can't imagine how I would feel about that if, like the Australian, I or my employer had been paying for your services. I will rest my case by saying that I read the information provided by the Home Office very carefully, and recall finding nothing that explicitly or implicitly suggests one ought not to renew one's passport between the time an application is filed and the time entry clearance is granted. I think that I am a reasonably intelligent and well-travelled person, etc., and if this information was not obvious to me, then it isn't likely to be obvious to a great many other people in my situation. Hence my suggestion that the UK Home Office is derelict for not making the information more easily available. Really, how hard could it be for them to write up a simple, straightforward and comprehensive 'how to' guide? (Think of all the questions that are asked on this forum that would never have to be asked.)

Anyways, thanks for the info about the slim chances the EC would be granted. That saves me a bunch of time and quite a bit of money.

Geeta, I agree that the bit you quoted isn't true. But that is part of my point -- the information the UK Home Office makes available is either incomplete or unreliable. (It says the passport has to be valid for the duration of one's stay, and yet that appears to be false.)

retrobolted.

Geeta, I agree that the bit you quoted isn't true. But that is part of my point -- the information the UK Home Office makes available is either incomplete or unreliable. (It says the passport has to be valid for the duration of one's stay, and yet that appears to be false.)

If it does say that, then yes, it's wrong.  Where is that?  I don't remember seeing it when I applied, but that was a while ago.

Thanks for implying I'm a numpty, Victoria. I can't imagine how I would feel about that if, like the Australian, I or my employer had been paying for your services.

But remember, Vicky is doing this out of her own goodwill.  It's not like she's getting paid for this.  I don't think she was implying you were one.  Really though, while I understand why you're upset about it, and you're right that it probably doesn't say you shouldn't renew your passport while applying, I don't think the Home Office is at fault here.  That's just my opinion though.